Update: The Kings won six consecutive games, acquired Marian Gaborik in hopes of jump-starting their offense and rekindled thoughts of moving up in the standings. It’s unlikely they can catch the San Jose Sharks for second in the Pacific Division, but it does seem more probable they can avoid being caught from behind and tumbling into a wild-card position by the end of the regular season. The Kings are 36-22-6, solidly in third in the division and sixth in the Western Conference. Tonight’s game is the second on a three-game trip that also takes them to Calgary on Monday … Anze Kopitar leads the Kings with 52 points, including a team-leading 33 assists. Jeff Carter has 40 points, including a team-high 22 goals for the Kings’ 27th-ranked offense … Taylor Hall leads the last-place Oilers (22-34-8) with 59 points (21 goals, 38 assists).

Elliott Teaford covers the Anaheim Ducks for the Orange County Register and the Southern California News Group. He covered the Ducks for 12 years, including the Stanley Cup season, for the Los Angeles Times and the Daily Breeze before returning to the beat in 2018 for SCNG. He also covered the Lakers for five seasons, including their back-to-back NBA championships in 2009 and '10. He once made a jump shot over future Utah Jazz center Mark Eaton during a pickup game in 1980 at Cypress College.